for supplication and praise, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) combined both in it. This supplication comprises both praise and petition, making it all the more fitting in this setting.
If the imam occasionally recites it aloud to teach those praying behind him, there is no harm in that. ‘Umar recited the opening supplication aloud to teach those praying behind him (1), and Ibn ‘Abbās recited al-Fātihah aloud (2) during the funeral prayer to teach them that it is a sunnah (3). The imam’s saying “Āmīn” aloud is another example. These are permissible differences in which neither those who practise something nor those who omit it should be censured. The same applies to raising the hands in prayer or not doing so, and to differences among the forms of the testimony recited while seated in prayer, the call to prayer, the call announcing its commencement, and the forms of pilgrimage: Hajj alone, Hajj combined with ‘umrah, and ‘umrah followed by Hajj.
Our sole purpose is to describe the guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as reflected in his own practice. This is our central aim, the focus of this book, and the object of our investigation and inquiry. That is one matter; what may permissibly be done or omitted without objection is another. In this book, we have not addressed what is permissible and what is not. Rather, our purpose is to describe the guidance that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) chose for himself, for it is the most complete and excellent guidance. Thus, when we say that his practice was neither to offer supplication regularly in the dawn prayer nor to recite “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate” aloud, this does not imply that doing otherwise is disliked or constitutes an innovation. Rather, his guidance (peace and blessings be upon him) is the most complete and excellent guidance. Allah is the One whose help is sought.
As for the hadith transmitted by Abū Ja‘far al-Rāzī, from al-Rabī‘ ibn Anas, from Anas, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) continued to offer supplication in the dawn prayer until he departed this world”—which is recorded in al-Musnad